Diagnosis. Lygodactylus decaryi is a very poorly known species from dry areas in the South of Madagascar that we here assign to the L. verticillatus group although the state of its tail (whorled or not) is uncertain pending further study (see below). It differs from other species of the group as follows: from all species in the group by the number of 15 preanal pores in males (vs. 9–11, rarely 6, in the other species); from L. heterurus and L. klemmeri by the absence (vs. presence) of distinct and well-defined longitudinal dark lines on the throat; from L. arnoulti and L. blanci by the smaller body size (mean SVL 25.1 vs. 30.2 and 30.3 mm); from L. blanci by the absence of a dense pattern of black spots on the throat (vs. presence); from L. arnoulti by an undefined dorsal pattern (vs. well-defined pattern of grey with indistinct ocellae or regularly arranged transversal dark lines or markings). From external characters, L. decaryi appears to be close to L. verticillatus, and a more detailed revision of these two species is necessary to understand their differentiation. If the tail of L. decaryi would be confirmed to be not whorled, it may also result to be related to the L. mirabilis group (but it has granular dorsal scales) or to L. tolampyae.

Comment

Habitat. According to Angel (1930) the holotype was found in a subdesertic region, at an elevation of 400 m above see level, in arid savannah. The specimen was collected under tree bark.